Panasonic, Qualcomm and Ford Motor Company announced they are working to deploy Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technologies in Colorado.

This is the first U.S. deployment of C-V2X technology and is an extension of a previously announced partnership between the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Panasonic to integrate connected vehicle technology in the state of Colorado. Panasonic, Qualcomm Technologies and Ford have joined the advanced development efforts to help deploy the technology, and to assess C-V2X capabilities this summer on select roadways throughout Panasonic’s CityNOW headquarters in Denver, which will be followed by deployment in select areas along the I-70 Mountain Corridor later in the year.

Panasonic will work with Kapsch TrafficCom in CDOT’s V2X development program, in which Kapsch TrafficCom will provide roadside units (RSUs), as well as with Ficosa to provide C-V2X onboard units (OBUs). The transit authority’s existing fleet of Ford utility vehicles will be equipped with C-V2X devices utilizing Ficosa’s CarCom platform to enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) direct communications. Panasonic’s connected vehicle data platform will collect and disseminate C-V2X data to provide roadway operators with improved situational awareness and a new ability to send safety critical information directly to vehicles.

“The state of Colorado has been focused on the rapid deployment of connected vehicle technology to advance safety and are encouraged by the progression of C-V2X,” said Michael P. Lewis, executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation. “We’re ready to help advance vehicle safety and serve as a hub for advanced vehicle testing, and development, with the support of Ford and technology leaders like Qualcomm Technologies and Panasonic.”

C-V2X is designed to be globally compatible with 5G and complement other Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) sensors, such as cameras, radar and Light Detection and Radar (LIDAR). C-V2X direct communication mode is designed to offer vehicles low latency communications for Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Roadside Infrastructure (V2I) and Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) without the involvement of a cellular network, or cellular network subscription, by operating on designated and harmonized 5.9 GHz ITS spectrum. Recent field test results show a significant range, reliability, and performance advantage of C-V2X direct communications, with more than twice the range and improved reliability compared to 802.11p radio technology.

With C-V2X’s superior performance and evolutionary path to 5G, the direct communication technology is well-positioned to be the global solution for V2X communications, supporting advancements in wireless communication and new automotive applications needed for enhancements in safety, autonomous driving and traffic efficiency. With the ability of C-V2X direct communications to be integrated into an LTE-based telematics unit, C-V2X is also cost-effective and continues to gain worldwide support in the automotive industry, and broader transportation ecosystem. Global C-V2X field validations with car manufacturers, automotive ecosystem participants, and in cooperation with regional governments are currently underway in Germany, France, Korea, China, Japan, and the U.S., with industry deployment expected to take place as early as 2020.